Remains of Korean War veteran returned to Griffin

GRIFFIN, Ga. - More than 60 years after he was killed in action, the remains of an Atlanta-area Korean War veteran have been returned to his family.

Interstate 75 was closed as the military motorcade made its way from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Griffin in Spalding County. Pfc Bobby Byars received full military honors.

The fighting in Korea stopped in 1953. Wednesday, 62 years after he was first reported missing in action, Byars returned home. His brother, Charles Byars, was just 13 when his older brother disappeared.

In 1993, North Korea turned over 208 boxes of soldier remains to the U.S. government. They contained the remains of 1,000 soldiers. It took 20 years to analyze Byars’ DNA and match it to his brother, nephew and other surviving family members. Charles Byars said he gave up hope long ago.